Ideally a shot is a simple, almost single movement. The
sequence below looks complex because it breaks the movement up so you
can see some of the important parts.
| STAND |
Settle feet for comfortable, stable position (usually about shoulder
width apart);
Stand upright. |
| NOCK |
Nock arrow - Set finger 'hook' with
the string just behind the first joint. Establish bowhand position
and take a little tension on the string.
|
| LOOK |
.. at the gold and keep your attention there while you ... |
| REHEARSE |
.. 'pre-play' the shot in your head, thinking through the feel of
shot through to the gold before moving into the physical execution
(this reminds your muscles what to do and helps avoid distractions).
From here on, the shot becomes
nearly one continuous, smooth and unhurried single movement as you
... |
| EXTEND ... |
Extend bow towards the target, sight on or near
gold- relax
fingers of bow hand, and bring up your drawing hand near cheek
level (pick your own best spot for this pre-draw with practice).
Check bow shoulder (low) and drawing elbow position (level with
drawing hand or slightly above).
|
| DRAW.... |
Keep string fairly close to the bow arm
front arm extended forward as you use your drawing elbow (NOT your
drawing hand!) to draw the string back to face, sight close to gold
and maintaining low bow shoulder until your drawing elbow is just
about behind the arrow and you feel your rear shoulder blade move
round and in towards the spine (This is IMPORTANT - good alignment
from bow hand to drawing elbow is one of the keys to performance,
and if there's one secret to great shooting it's using the back muscles
and shoulder blades effectively instead of cramping up the front of
your body and arms. Think LINE - LINE - LINE from the centre of the
gold to the tip of your drawing elbow!).... |
| REFERENCE |
Index finger should arrive underneath chin in firm
bone to bone contact with jaw, mouth closed (If it doesn't, next
time arrange the draw so it does!). String should be visible roughly
in line with the bow, but not obscuring sight. Face
reference point may be central or to the side, depending what fits
best with the arm position - but it must be CONSISTENT from shot
to shot! ......
|
| AIM.... |
Firm up the sight into
the gold, keeping the bow hand and back pressure strong and ....
|
| STRETCH... |
Keep that backward elbow movement smooth and the
bow arm and aim strong as ...
|
| CLICK... |
the shot goes off
almost by itself (you may let a clicker tell your fingers when to
stop holding) and... |
| MAINTAIN... |
Hold the aim and arm pressures
firm as the arrow flies - crucial to precise shooting. The bow
hand naturally moves forward in line and a little to the side (the
left, if you're right-handed) and your drawing hand falls back behind
your head near your neck or shoulder... |
| HOLD |
until the arrow strikes and
|
| RELAX |
Let the bow come down and your arms return to rest as you |
| EVALUATE |
Think and evaluate the entire
performance - what could be better next shot? |
